Severe chest pain overcome
The main message of the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, is this: Spiritual reality supersedes material evidence.
Jesus showed this when he stilled storms, paid his taxes, fed the multitudes, healed the sick, and raised the dead, including himself. He understood spiritual reality, which is in direct opposition to material evidence. Jesus stated, “The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works” (John 14:10 ). In other words, God performs all activity, and animates His creation.
This understanding is important when we realize that God is the source of all action, mobility, purpose, health, and productivity. It relieves us of the responsibility that we have to change or fix the human picture in order to be well or experience harmony in our lives. Our only responsibility is to understand and trust God, the Father.
A good example of this is in 91st Psalm: “Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways” (verses 9–11 ).
Jesus teaches us that in order to receive this beautiful gift of love and grace, which is already present, we must put off pride and human will. We are spiritual ideas living in God, Spirit, and as Mary Baker Eddy writes in Science and Health, “A spiritual idea has not a single element of error, and this truth removes properly whatever is offensive” (p. 463 ).
I know from reading the Bible that God knows, loves, and thinks of me as a unique part of His creation. Wow! I am cherished in the most special way. God made each of us to be productive and progressive in the best way possible. We are satisfied when we know God, our Father, the creator of earth and heaven.
This idea recently sustained me when, late one night, I suddenly began to experience severe, incapacitating chest pain. I soon became too weak to walk and was barely conscious. My husband assisted me physically as he affirmed the truth that we both knew from our study of Christian Science: God is Life; therefore, I cannot be separated or depart from Life.
I soon became capable of also speaking the truth about my being, continuing in the firm conviction of God’s love for me as His spiritual idea, under His omnipotent care. Both my husband and I spoke with authority, as Jesus taught us to do in his lessons throughout the Gospels. I was able to repeat the “Word of God” from my years of study of the Bible, holding to my spiritual perfection moment by moment, until the pain diminished and faded into nothingness.
When I awoke in the morning, a few hours later, I went about my normal daily tasks including cleaning the house, doing the laundry, shopping, and preparing for a business trip the following day. I was able to complete every task with total freedom and assurance of perfect health. While I was away on the business trip, I was able to go hiking in the mountains on my time off each day for two weeks. There has been no return of the symptoms.
The Bible is our guide, our GPS, which keeps us focused and confident in understanding more about God. Every document in the Bible is an account of God’s provision, protection, and performance to those who love Him and are obedient to His commandments. To follow Christ Jesus, who is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6 ), is the way to feel God’s presence.
Looking through the material senses at the human scene, one could be discouraged and feel hopeless when circumstances feel beyond human control. Jesus showed us how we can see the world of Spirit. God is Life, and we live in God, not in matter. I’m grateful that this truth sets us free and always changes the material circumstance into a harmonious outcome, even in the most extreme emergencies.
Cindy Snowden
Lakewood, Colorado, US
